Fallout franchise have both become acclaimed by their fans for exactly that.
Games can be replayable for more than just the sheer amount of content, however. Strategy games like Hitman achieve the same feat by giving you infinite ways to beat the same game. That's why Redditors had a lot of different ideas when it came to the most replayable games ever made.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic (2003)
One of the best parts of RPGs is that they tend to tell ambitious stories and Star Wars: Knights of the Republic is no exception, telling a critically acclaimed story of Jedi and Sith set long before the events of the movies. This would normally limit their replayability but it doesn't stop one Redditor from listing the game among their most replayable.
They attribute this to the game having their "favorite universe" to live in and say that the game "never gets old" because of this. By fleshing out the world, BioWare created a game that's endlessly fun to play even if the player already knows the story. Additionally, the smart use of multiple endings based on the player's choices means there's even more reason to replay.
Windows Solitaire (1990)
Although Windows Solitaire is no longer installed as standard on PCs due to being available for free on the Windows app store, it's a game that's been a staple for a long time, even earning a place in Museum of Play's Video Game Hall of Fame. The game involves organizing cards by number and suit and the random shuffling of the cards at the beginning makes each game unique.
It's been ubiquitous for a long time, so much so that most people wouldn't even think of it as a normal video game, but Redditor raojason received no shortage of when they put forward the suggestion with the amusing line "Been playing that sh*t for decades." As a single-player game with short rounds and infinite possibilities, they aren't the only one who has kept going back to Solitaire.
Enter The Gungeon (2016)
No video game genre is more associated with replayability than roguelikes. That includes Enter the Gungeon, a top-down shooter that throws the player into a weapon-filled dungeon comprised of chaotic procedurally generated levels. Along with the random levels, there are tons of items and even NPCs that appear to make each playthrough completely unique.
Redditor the best retro-styled roguelike games and compliments the simple fun of running and shooting "your way through different levels, collecting new guns and items meanwhile." Typical of a roguelike, dying means starting again from the very beginning which only makes it more addictive to its dedicated players.
Hitman Series (2000-2021)
Rather than picking out a particular title, Redditors like Hitman series when it comes to eminently replayable games. That's because from the very earliest titles to last year's Hitman 3, the core philosophy of being able to "play each map a hundred times killing your targets in different ways and still be surprised" has stayed the same.
Compared to other iconic video game assassins, Agent 47 seems to have almost endless possibilities when it comes to taking out a target; from the ingenious to the ridiculous. Though they're technically story-based games, fans know that the real appeal of Hitman is being able to exercise your creativity to its fullest while pulling off legendary kills.
Path Of Exile (2013)
A game that many people see as a great free alternative to the Path of Exile is a dark fantasy action RPG that emphasizes possibility. From the 7 character classes and different weapons to the procedurally generated areas and random items, so much can change from one playthrough to another.
That's why xDaveedx considers it one of the most replayable games ever, praising the killer combination of "satisfying combat and masses of different content." They acknowledge that it's not a "beginner-friendly" game at all but, for those who do get invested, it's a game that remains fresh playthrough after playthrough.
Civilization V (2010)
Civilization V and the most expansive games RTS games so it's no surprise fans of the genre considered both amongst the most replayable games of all time. Even though it's not the newest edition, Redditors like Spyguy122204 still think Civilization V wins out over its sequel.
They highlight that the game has "about 50 different leaders" to play as and all kinds of "different play styles" with which to tackle the game. With pacifist ways to achieve victory along with those that involve dominating opponents, a single play-through just isn't enough to experience all of the joys the title has to offer.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
Despite being a spin-off from Obsidian's flagship post-apocalyptic franchise, Fallout: New Vegas won over a ton of fans with its battle for control over the Mojave wasteland. Redditor Elsekiro wasn't alone in saying "There is no game I have replayed more than fallout new Vegas" and mentioned how mods can only expand on a great experience.
With more customization options than Fallout 3, the return of the Reputation system to make every interaction with different factions more interesting, and more developed companions, there was a ton of reason to re-play New Vegas compared to its predecessors. Most importantly though, its world is huge and rewards the player for exploring.
Deep Rock Galactic (2018)
Whilst the concept of an FPS game about space dwarves exploring caves and taking on aliens to complete missions is fun enough on its own, what really makes Deep Rock Galactic uniquely replayable is the fact that not only are the levels procedurally generated but every environment is fully destructible.
Redditor Chillynuggets thinks the title is "for sure" one of the most replayable games ever, saying that whether you "play solo or with randos," it's guaranteed to be a ton of fun. Four different classes of dwarves with special weapons and tools add even more reason to keep taking on new missions.
Rimworld (2013)
Taking the construction and management sim concept to a frontier world on the edge of known space, Rimworld tasks the player with creating and maintaining their own colony. The whole thing is driven by an AI storyteller that constantly throws new challenges and surprises the player's way to ensure things never get boring.
One Redditor sums up the ridiculous amount of choice the game offers by saying that they're "200 hours into it and still feel overwhelmed with its possibilities." From characters and technological advancements to different events and enemies, everything can change between two different playthroughs.
Hollow Knight (2017)
There's a good reason why the announcement trailer for Silksong was met with so much hype this summer and it's because Hollow Knight is a shockingly good souls-like that gives even the Fromsoft games that helped inspire it a run for their money. What makes it special, according to fans like Redditor BrainnDead, is just how much there is to the game.
They say "it's insane how much content you get" from it especially when the player takes the time to explore and look for secrets. Despite a non-linear format, there's always something to do whether it's a new boss fight or a unique challenge. Finally, different equippable charms allow the player to explore different ways to approach each fight across multiple playthroughs.
